Furniture side frame



. 1936- w. L. GITTINGS 4 2,064,424

FURNITURE SIDE FRAME Filed Dec. 16, 1935 Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES FURNITURE SIDE FRAME William L. Gittings, Racine, Wis., assignor to Gold Metal Folding Furniture 00., Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,655

2 Claims.

This inventionappertains to furniture, and more particularly to a novel end support for various articles I of furniture, such as chairs, couches, tables, and so forth.

The trend in late years is toward so-called Modernistic furniture, which usually takes the form of highly polished metal side frames, generally constructed from tubular stock. While furniture of this character has appeal, the same lacks the warmth, beauty and color of wood. It is therefore one of the primary objects of my invention to provide a furniture side-piece or frame constructed from a combination of wood and metal, whereby the new, desirable modernistic effect will be had, without the disadvantages and cost of all-metal or all-wood frames.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide novel means for constructing the combination side-pieces, whereby a strong and durable construction will be had, one that will be simple and easy to assemble, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

A further important object of my invention is to provide a combination wood and metal frame end-piece embodying a top horizontal piece and front and rear vertical pieces formed of wood, with highly polished metal corner pieces connecting the top, front, and rear pieces, the corner pieces being exposed to view so that a novel and new effect will be had.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one of my improved side frames applied to a chair.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section of one corner of the side frame, with parts thereof broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail, fragmentary, and perspective view, showing one corner of the novel side frame.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter S generally indicates one of my. improved side frames applied to a chair C. While in the drawing I have shown the side piece applied to a chair only, it is to be understood that the same can be utilized in various other types of furniture, such as couches, tables, foot-stools, or

the like.

..The novel furniture side frame S comprises vertical, front and rear pieces 5 and 6, and a top horizontal piece I. These pieces 5, 6, and I are all formed from wood, and if preferred the top piece I can be painted a contrasting color from the front and rear pieces 5 and 6.

In accordance with my invention the wood pieces 5, 6, and I are connected together by metal corner pieces 8 and 9. These corner pieces 8 and 9 can be constructed from fiat metal stock, and are highly polished or chromium plated. Each of the corner metal pieces 8 and 9 includes an arcuate body portion III, and right angularly disposed attaching portions II and I2. The attaching portions II and I2 are reduced in width so that stop shoulders I3 will be formed at the ends of the arcuate body portion II). In forming the side frame the inner faces of the wood pieces to be joined are grooved to receive the attaching portions II and I2, and thus the attaching portions are, countersunk within the inner faces of the wood pieces, and lie flush with said inner faces. Screws or other fastening elements I4 are employed for rigidly securing the attaching portions in place, and it is to be noted that the shoulders I3 on the arcuate body portion fit up against-the adjacent ends of the wood pieces, and constitute thrust or bearing surfaces.

The adjacent ends of the wood pieces are preferably rounded off, as at I5, so that abrupt corners areeliminated, which reduces the liability .of the garments of persons catching thereon, and adds to the beauty and artistic effect of the furniture. The highly polished metal corner pieces being exposed to view blend with the wood pieces, and give a highly desirable new and ornamental effect.

In the present showing the front and rear pieces 5 and 6 are rigidly secured to a side base piece It of wood, but it is to be understood that the ends of the front and rear pieces 5 and B can be provided with feet in lieu of the base, or the base can be constructed similarly to the top piece I, and connected with the front and rear pieces 5 and 6 by the ornamental corner metal pieces.

In Figure l a chair bottom I! and a back I8 are rigidly secured to the side frames, and the wood pieces permit the expeditious connecting of the chair back and bottom thereto. By my improved construction, not only is a novel and modernistic effect obtained, but a strong and durable construction is had, which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

By providing the corner metal pieces, the bending of the Wood is eliminated, and consequently the likelihood of the wood breaking and splintering at the bend is prevented.

Another important feature of the invention is that the corner metal pieces being detachably connected to the wood pieces permit the furniture side frames to be shipped in a knockdown condition, which saves space, and so forth. This is impossible with all-metal side frames, which have to be preformed at the factory. The fact that the inner faces of the wood pieces are grooved to receive the attaching portions of the metal corners facilitates assembling, and insures correct location of the parts.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In an article of furniture, a pair of angularly disposed wood pieces having their adjacent ends spaced, an ornamental metal corner piece connecting said adjacent ends including a body portion located between said ends and exposed to view, and attaching portions countersunk in the inner faces of said wood pieces, said attaching portions being of less width than the body portion whereby to define shoulders abutting the ends of said wood pieces.

2. In an article of furniture, a side frame including a pair of wood strips angularly disposed relative to one another having their adjacent ends spaced, an ornamental metal piece formed from flat stock connecting said adjacent ends, said metal piece including an arcuate connecting body portion located between said spaced ends and exposed to view, and angularly disposed attaching portions, the attaching portions being countersunk in and secured to the inner faces of the woodpieces, said attaching portions being of less width than the arcuate body portion whereby to define shoulders abutting against the ends of said wood pieces.

WILLIAM L. GIT'IINGS. 

